Illuminated dial



Feb. 3, 1931. -R, HORN 1,791,131

ILLUMINATED DIAL Filed Sept. 7. 1928 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STTE PATENT OFFICEY ROYAL HORN, OF CHICAGO7 ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KELLOG-G SWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS `ILLUMINATED DIAL Application led September My invention relates to a novel and improved means for illuminating the dials of a radio receiving set and an object of my invention is the provision of a fixture provided with suitable means for supporting the lamp bulbs for illuminating purposes.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a fixture carrying a supporting bracket which is provided with integrally formed sockets for supporting the lamp bulbs for illuminating the dials of a radio receiving set with which it may be associated.

Another feature is the novel means employed for conducting the current from the terminalswhich are connected with an external source and which are'secured to the fixture to the terminals of the lamp bulbs which are supported by a bracket of the tixture.

Still another feature of my invention is the means employed for supporting the fixture of my invention in proximity to the dials of a radio receiving set.

The above features as well as others not specifically pointed out above will be more fully described in the ensuing specification.

F or a more complete understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters in the several views denote like parts and in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a radio receiving set of the two dial control type embodying the lamp supporting fixture of my invention7 Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the lamp supporting fixture of my invention with parts in section to clearly illustrate its construction, and

Fig. 4t is a perspective of a fragmentary portion of the lamp supporting fixture illustrating the socket for receivinga lamp bulb.

Referring now more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the dial illuminating lamp fixture F of my invention is shown associated with a radio receiving set of a well known type provided with a two dial control arrangement comprising dials D and D. The left hand dial D is associated with a multiple switching arrangement in which a plurality 7, 1928. Serial N'o. 304,436.`

of switches are moved simultaneously to change or vary the inductances of the secondaries of a plurality of transformers in steps the same being .housed in the metal containers C which serve as shields between the several stages. A suitable shaft 2 to which the dial D is secured controls the simultaneous movement of the switches associated with the single operating shaft 2. The right hand dial D is associated with the rotors of the transformers before mentioned and a shaft 3 to which the dial D is secured controls the simultaneous movement of the rotors through suitable mechanism associated with the shaft 3.

Referring now to the dial-D it comprises a disk 4 provided with a hub 5 having a suitable orice to receive the shaft towhich it is secured in any suitable manner. An arcuate shaped slot or window 6 near the peripheral edge of the disk 1 is provided and integral angular tongue extensions 7- permit an arcuate shaper transparent designation strip 9 such as Celluloid to be slipped between these angular tongue extensions 7 to support and secure the same before the arcuate window 6. The designation strip 9 is provided with suitable indicating numerals which appear successively before a small rectangular slot or window 10 in the front panel 11 of the receiving set as thedial D is rotated through the agency of a knob or suitable lever secured to the operating shaft 2.

The dial D located to the right of dial D is secured to the shaft 3 ina manner similar to that described in connection with the dial D and is also provided with a designation strip 12 which is supported and secured in position before an arcuate shaped window 13 in the manner before described. As the dial D is rotated through the agency of a suitableknob or lever secured to the shaft 3 the indicating numerals on the designation strip 12 will appear successively before a rectangular slot or window 14 in the front panel 11 of the receiving set.

The lampl supporting fixture F of my invention comprises a substantially U-shaped supporting bracket 15, the depending legs 16 and 17 of which are provided with circuklu lar orifices 18 near their lower extremities. The ends of the legs 16 and 17 are biiurcated and the two sections 19 and 2O of the same are Jformed to diverge into two branches to form angular openings or gaps 21. rlhus the'edges of the'diverging sections 19 and 20 about the orifices 18 in the ends or the legs 1G and 17 form one complete turn of a screw threadto `tornisocketsS into which may be screwedthe hreaded caps of the miniature lamp bulbs 24 such as is illustrated in 3. A substantially U-shaped conducting'member 25 has depending legs 26 and 27 which are provided with offset portions 2S and A29 to space the respective ends and 31 thereoi' from therespective ends of the legs 16 and 17 of the bracket15. The U-shaped conducting member 25 as well as other parts hereinafter described is secured to the bracket 15 by screws 32 and 3 2 and nuts 45 but insulated therefrom by the 1lil-shaped insulating strip 34. The respective legs 25 and 27 of the'member 25 are so formed as to be placed under 'tension 'whensecured as just described and Las the lamp bulbs 24 are screwed into the respective sockets S the terminals 350i the lamps24 engage the tree ends of the legs 26 and 27 and force them out against their normal'tension. The tension under which the legs 26 and 27 are placed by'the insertion of a lamp bulb 24 in the sockets S'insures a positive contact between theterminals 8 5bithe lamps 24 and the respective ends 30 andl and also provides means for maintaining'the lamps 24 in position in the respective sockets S. it also insures a positive contact between the screw terminals 36 of the lamps 24 andthe Asockets S. The bracket 15 and member 25 serve as conducting elements for carrying current to the terminals 85 and 3G of the lamp bulbs 24. 'The means employed fier connecting these conducting elements with the respective terminals 37 and 38 will new be described.

A pair et insulating strips and 41 associated respectively with the bracket 15 and conducting member 25 are provided with pairs of orifices An'orice' 43 in each of theinsulating strips `40 and 41 is adapted to receivea m-etal bushing 144 which is 'se- `c'u'red thereto in a suitable manner and these bushings 44 engage" respectively the bracket 15 and member-25. 'Screws32'and`B2 e1;-

' tend through suitable orifices in the bracket 15, insulating member" 34 and conducting jmemberl'25 and orifices 43 andbushings 44 Vin thelre'spective :strips V40 and v41 land'nuts gag th 'screws 32"*and732" secure' these parts "to the bracket 15. lThes'crew y32 passes through a 4suitable insulating` bushingefto insulate it ffrom the' V-bre-cket 15 and maintains the instal bushing E44 in thel strip 41- in contactual enggagement with the conducting member v25. 1 terminal' 37 to which an ez'lternal conductor is secured, rests between the head oi' the screw 32 and the insulating bushing 46 and through the medium of the screw 32 and metal bushing 44 in the insulating` strip 41 current is extended to the conducting member 25. 'lhe terminal 38 rests between the beau of the screw 32 and the metal bushing 44 which is maintained in contactual engagement with the @racket 15 by the screw. rihe conducting` member 25 is insulated 'from the screw 32 by the bushin 47. Vith the lamp bulb 24 in the socket S oi the leg 17 of the bracket 15 the electrical circuit entends from the terminal 3S through the bushing 44 in Vthe strip 40, the bracket 15, the screw terminal 36 of the lamp bulb 24, the filament ot ythe lamp, the terminal 35, the conducting member 25, the bushing 44 in the strip 41,

the screw 32 to the other terminal 37. rlhe current for a lamp bulb as 24 in the socket S in the leg` 1G of the bracket 15, may be readily traced 'from the above description. This arrangement of parts just described places the lamp bulbs 24 in the sockets S in the respective legs 16 and 17 oi" the bracket 15 in multiple circuit and the lighting oi" these lamps 24 may be controlled by meanslof a suitableswitch.

The strips'40 and 41 and insulating member 34 are provided with rectangular shaped orifices and tne reduced'end 51 of the bracket 52 secured to the sub-base 53 ot the receiving set 'entends through these orifices to support the fixture F as awhole with the lamp bulbs 24 in the sockets S in respective legs 1G and 17 of the bracket 15 positioned behind the disks D and D in proximity to the transparent designati n'strips 9 and 12 secured to the dials D and D jas'before described. The respective orifices 55 and 56 in the bracket 15 and member 25 are enlarged to prevent engagement ofthe bracket 52 with the bracket 15 andmember' 25 when lthe tixture F is positioned on the' same as just described to prevent `short circuiting.

l/Vhile l have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is readily understoodkthat the fixture oi' my invention is applicable to uses other than that described. Also changes and modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention should be construed to cover all such changes and modifications `as come withinA the spirit 'and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure byUnited 4States Letters Patent is:

1. 1n a fixture et the character described,

asupporting bracket,l a lul-shaped conducting strips parallel 'with said bracket but insulated therefrom, terminals associated with said bracket and said conducting strip, insulating members associated with 'saidl conducting strip and currentconducting inem bers secured to said insulating members joining said bracket and said strip to said terminals,respectively, a socket formed by splitting and detorming Ithe end of said bracket and a lamp bulb secured in said socket the terminals of which engage respectively said bracket and said s trip.

2. In a iixture of the character described, a supporting bracket, a U-shaped conducting strip associated therewith but insulated therefrom, terminals associated with, said bracket and said conducting strip, insulating members associated with said bracket and said conducting strip and current conducting members secured to said insulating members electrically connecting said bracket and said strip to said terminals, respectively, a socket formed by splitting and deforming the end of said brackets and a lamp bulb secured in said socket, the terminals of which engage respectively said bracket and said strip.

3. In a fixture of the character described, a U-shaped supporting bracket, a U-shaped conducting strip associated therewith but insulated from said bracket, terminals associated with said bracket, insulating` members associated with said bracket and said conducting strip and current conducting members secured to said insulating members, engaging respectively said bracket and said conducting strip, means for securing said strip, said insulating members and said terminals to said bracket and means for insulating said securing means respectively from said bracket and said strip, said current conducting members electrically joining said terminals with said bracket and said conducting strip, respectively.

4. In a fixture of the character described, a bracket provided with integrally formed sockets, a conducting strip associated with said bracket but insulated therefrom, incandescent lamps supported in said sockets, the terminals of said lamps engaging, respectively, said bracket and said strip, terminals associated with said bracket and said strip and conducting members engaging said bracket and said strip to connect the same to said terminals, respectively, a pair of rotatable dials and means for supporting said xture to position said lamps adjacent to said dials to illuminate the same.

5. In a fixture of the character described, a bracket provided with integrally formed sockets, a conducting strip associated with said bracket but insulated therefrom, incandescent lamps supported in said sockets, terminals associated with said bracket and said strip, insulating means and conducting members secured thereto engaging respectively ysaid bracket and said strip to connect the same tosaid terminals, apair of rotatable dials provided with arcuate shaped transparent designation strips and means for supporting said ixture to position said lamps adjacent said designation strips to illuminate the same.

6. In a lixture oi the character described, a pair oi' conducting strips arranged in generally parallel relation but insulated from each other, a screw-threaded socket formed by splitting and deforming one of said strips to receive the base screw terminal of an electric light bulb, the other of said strips being arranged to engage the tip contact of the light bulb, and means for securing said strips on either side of a strip of insulation and electrically connecting said strips to terminal means respectively.

7. In a fixture ofthe character described,

a pair ot' conducting strips arranged in` rounding said oritice being split and 'dei Jormed into a spiral or screw turn to receive the screw base terminal of an electric light bulb, the other said strip being arranged to engage the tip contact of said bulb, and a pair of terminals electrically joined to said strips, respectively, and means for securing said strips together but insulated from each other.

9. In a fixture of the character described, a pair of U-shaped conducting strips arranged in generally parallel relation but insulated from each other, a screw threaded socket formed in each leg of one of said strips, each socket being adapted to receive the base screw terminal of an electric light bulb, the other one of said strips being arranged to engage the tip contact oit' the light bulb.

10. In afixture of the character described, a pair. of U-shaped conducting strips are ranged in generally parallel but spaced relation, a screw socket formed in each leg of one of said strips, each socket being arranged to receive the base screw terminal of an electric light bulb, the other said strip being arranged to engage the tip contact of the bulb and terminals joined respectively to said strips.

11. In a iixture of the character described, a pair of U-shaped conducting strips arranged in spaced relation, one of said strips having an orilice in each of its legs, the edge of the material surrounding each said orifice being formed into a spiral or screw turn to receive the screw base terminal of an electric light bulb, the other said strip being ka1'- rranged to engage the tip Contact of said bulb, and a pair of terminals electrically oined to said strips5 respectively.

Signed byme at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of llinois, this 4th clay of September, 1928.

ROYAL' HORN. 

